Top 14 result of the final
Toulouse show their pedigree and come through in a close encounter.
We tipped Clermont to win but on the day Toulouse had to much power and guile and certainly the man who made a difference in Byron Kelleher.
Half time saw the teams in at 10-10 following a bruising first 40 and if anyone thought the pace would drop they were wrong as the second half provided more of the same. It took until the 54th minute for Toulouse to take the lead and then on the 59th minute the stranglehold on the game as they moved to 20-10. Toulouse then stretched out a 26-13 lead but last points went to Clermont with a converted try right on the final whistle and the final score of:
Clermont 20-26 Toulouse
Clermont Auvergne - Baby; Rougerie, Canale, Joubert, Nalaga; James, Mignoni; Zirakashvili, Ledesma, Emmanuelli, Cudmore, Privat, Audebert, Bonnaire, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Floch for Rougerie (65), Bai for Canale (52), Broomhall for Vermeulen (62), Samson for Cudmore (55), Domingo for Emmanuelli (52), Smit for Ledesma (67)
Toulouse - Medard; Donguy, Kunavore, Jauzion, Heymans; Ellisalde, Kelleher; Human, Servat, Hasan, Pelous, Albacete, Bouilhou, Du Sautoir, Sowerby.
Replacements: Fritz for Elissalde (62), Courrent for Kunavore (79), Maka for Dusautoir (55), Lamboley, Poux for Human (55), Vernet Basualdo